Man blames hospital, doctor for his stroke

PARKERSBURG - A Jackson County man is alleging that a Wood County hospital and physician are responsible for a stroke he suffered while under their care.

Jennings H. Stewart Jr. of Murraysville filed a lawsuit against Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital and Dr. Brian K. Richardson in Wood Circuit Court on Jan. 17. In his complaint and suit, filed with the assistance of James I. Stealey, with the Parkersburg law firm of Goldenberg, Goldenberg and Stealey, Stewart, 58, alleges that Richardson, 32, and C-CMH staff did not diagnose and treat him for a stroke he suffered while a patient at C-CMH in early 2007.

According to court records, Stewart was admitted to C-CMH in mid-January 2007. The reason he was admitted is not stated.

However, on Jan. 18, Stewart alleges he "suffered a vertebral basilar stroke or transient ischemic attack which went undiagnosed and untreated through the following day." The incident resulted in him developing "serious and permanent physical injuries and damages" that include neurological defects, partial paralysis and impaired speech and eyesight.

In his suit, Stewart alleges that C-CMH and Richardson were negligent in failing "to monitor [his] condition ... to inform the appropriate health care providers of his condition or changes in condition ... to timely consult with specialists to assist in diagnosis or treatment ... and ... to intervene surgically or medically at an acceptable manner." As a result of their alleged negligence, Stewart says he incurred "pain and suffering, emotional distress and mental anguish ... loss of income and earning capacity and hospitalization, including medical expenses totaling $13,894."

In addition to C-CMH and Richardson, Stewart named BestPractices of West Virginia as a co-defendant in his suit. According to his suit, BestPractices has a contract with C-CMH to provide medical services to C-CMH, including those of Richardson.

According to the Secretary of State's and state Board of Medicine's Web sites, BestPractices is a Fairfax, Va.-based company with offices at C-CMH main campus on Garfield Ave. in Parkersburg.

The case has been assigned to Judge Jeffrey B. Reed.

Wood Circuit Court case number: 09-C-74